Che Kung Temple, Sha Tin

The origin of the temple can be traced back to the end of the Ming Dynasty(明朝). It was renovated once in 1890 and re-constructed in 1994.

Che Kung

The temple was built in honour of "Che Kung" or "General Che", a great general of Song Dynasty(宋朝) . It was said that during an epidemic that broke out in Sha Tin in late Ming Dynasty, residents of Sha Tin found out from historical writings that Che Kung was not only merited for his successful suppression of uprisings, he was also known for clearing epidemics wherever he set foot in. People therefore built a temple to house Che Kung in Sha Tin. The epidemic subsided, so the story goes, on the day the construction of the temple was completed.

Architectural Setting

Che Kung - General Che (車公)

Che Kung was said to be a great general in the Song Dynasty. He was honoured by the emperor for his great merits in suppressing a rebellion in southern China. After his death, people began worshipping him for his loyalty and bravery.

Che Kung Festival

There are four Che Kung Festivals each year. They fall on the 2nd day of the first lunar month, the 27th day of the third lunar month, the 6th day of the sixth lunar month and the 16th day of the eighth lunar month. The busiest time is the 2nd day of the first lunar month when people crowd the temple to worship Che Kung, turn the fan-bladed wheel of fortune and beat the drum to ensure good luck in the coming year.<

Renovations

The old temple had been renovated in 1890. In view of the increasing number of worshippers during the Che Kung Festival on the 2nd day of the first lunar month, the Chinese Temples Committee built the present temple in 1994 in front of the original temple with a cost of $48 million.